The Best Fishing Spots in Ontario
Ontario offers world-class recreational fishing across thousands of lakes and long rivers, from the Great Lakes shoreline to remote Northern Ontario backcountry. Anglers target key species such as walleye, northern pike, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, lake trout, brown trout, rainbow trout, Chinook and coho salmon, muskellunge, and abundant yellow perch and panfish. You can enjoy shore fishing, boat trips into remote lakes, fly fishing for trout and smallmouth, and winter ice fishing for walleye and perch, with options for both short day trips and extended wilderness excursions.
Top Cities For Fishing
Lake Fishing
Lake Ontario
Lake Erie
Lake Nipissing
Lake Huron
St. Marys River
Lake Superior
Lake Saint Clair
Sea Fishing
Cornwall
(3 km to coast)
Top Freshwater Fishing Spots
Bay of Quinte
This long, fertile arm of Lake Ontario is legendary for fall and winter trophy walleye, with spring-summer action for pike and largemouth bass; troll breaks and current seams from Belleville to Deseronto , and cast weedflats and channels for mixed species.
Credit River
Flowing into Lake Ontario at Port Credit , the Credit is noted for seasonal steelhead and salmon runs plus resident trout; shore and wading anglers work pools and runs from the lower valley to upper branches, while small craft can probe the mouth and harbor edges.
Detroit River
This fast-flowing connector between Lake St. Clair and Lake Erie hosts a famed spring walleye run, plus smallmouth and muskie; vertical jigging current seams from boats dominates, while shore anglers score from parks and piers around Windsor and LaSalle .
French River
A scenic Canadian Shield waterway connecting Lake Nipissing to Georgian Bay , the French River offers classic structure for muskie, walleye, smallmouth, and pike; fish eddies, rock points, and cabbage beds by boat, with some accessible shore points at lodges and landings.
Georgian Bay
The sprawling northeast arm of Lake Huron offers rugged-island fishing for smallmouth bass, pike, lake trout, and salmon; launch from Parry Sound , Midland , or Collingwood , exploring rocky shorelines, reefs, and drop-offs with both casting and trolling approaches.
Grand River
Southern Ontario’s Grand River delivers diverse fishing for smallmouth bass, walleye, and trout in managed sections; wade or float riffles and pools around Fergus , Paris , and Brantford , with boat access on reservoirs and lower river stretches.
Lake Erie
Renowned for trophy walleye and giant smallmouth bass, Lake Erie’s Ontario north shore sees exceptional summer walleye trolling and late-spring smallmouth on shoals; launch from Port Colborne , Long Point , or Leamington and work reefs, drop-offs, and weed edges for consistent action.
Lake Huron
From the Bluewater corridor to Manitoulin Island , Lake Huron delivers open-water Chinook, lake trout, and steelhead plus rugged-shoreline smallmouth; target points, shoals, and thermoclines by boat, while harbors and breakwalls provide shore opportunities during seasonal salmon and steelhead migrations.
Lake Nipissing
A classic northern fishery known for walleye, pike, and muskie, with excellent winter opportunities for perch; access from North Bay and Sturgeon Falls , targeting shoals, weedbeds, and mid-lake structure by boat, or huts over productive flats during the ice season.
Lake Ontario
Ontario’s urban big-water fishery offers Chinook salmon, coho, steelhead, and summer brown trout offshore, with nearshore action for smallmouth bass, pike, and carp around Toronto , Hamilton , and Oakville ; spring and fall trolling shines along temperature breaks, while pier casting and kayak fishing can be excellent during staging runs.
Lake Simcoe
A four-season hotspot famous for winter yellow perch and lake whitefish, Lake Simcoe also offers open-water lake trout, smallmouth bass, and pike; access from Keswick , Barrie , and Beaverton , working shoals, humps, and weedlines by boat or productive public piers.
Lake Superior
The largest Great Lake offers wild, coldwater action for lake trout, coho, and steelhead, with shoreline casting opportunities around Thunder Bay and boat trolling along steep breaks and river mouths; rugged structure and clear water reward precise presentations.
Niagara River
Connecting Lake Erie and Lake Ontario , the Niagara features swift currents and deep pools holding steelhead, lake trout, walleye, and seasonal salmon; boaters drift edges and eddies, while shore anglers work parks and piers around Fort Erie , Queenston , and Niagara-on-the-Lake .
Ottawa River
Flowing along the Ontario–Quebec border, the Ottawa holds muskellunge, walleye, smallmouth, and sturgeon; anglers work current breaks, bays, and shoals around Ottawa , Arnprior , and Hawkesbury with trolling passes and targeted casting.
Rice Lake
A weedy, shallow favorite for largemouth bass, panfish, and walleye, Rice Lake fishes well from docks, causeways, and boats; launch near Bewdley , Hastings , or Keene to work weedlines, channels, and the Trent-Severn flow for steady multi-species action.
Saugeen River
A Lake Huron tributary famous for steelhead and strong smallmouth bass fishing, the Saugeen offers productive drifts and swinging runs; access points around Walkerton , Paisley , and the Port Elgin mouth provide both shore and small-boat opportunities.
Lake St. Clair
A shallow, fertile basin famed for giant muskellunge, plus abundant smallmouth, walleye, and perch; drifting and trolling weedlines and breaks from Mitchell’s Bay to Belle River is prime, with shore access at marinas and public piers.
St. Clair River
Deep, clear flows deliver superb walleye, salmonids, and smallmouth bass; boaters drift jigs and three-way rigs through channels between Sarnia and Port Lambton , while shore anglers work seawalls and park accesses along the Canadian side.
St. Lawrence River
World-class smallmouth bass and muskellunge populate the clear, current-rich St. Lawrence; target shoals, current breaks, and weed edges near Brockville , Gananoque , and the Thousand Islands with finesse plastics, jerkbaits, or big trolling spreads for muskies.
Trent River
Part of the Trent–Severn system, the Trent River holds walleye, muskie, bass, and pike; fish below locks and in current seams from Trenton through Campbellford and Hastings , with boaters working channels and shore anglers targeting dams and parks.